Paint Fumes

My thoughts and my heart are with the Van Jacob Family.  

One of the best things about being a mom is watching the kids grow up to be interesting people, with their own passions and obsessions.

If you’re lucky- and I’m very lucky- they share these interests with you and expand your world.

My youngest daughter’s passion for the natural sciences has me learning things I never did (but should have) thanks to Joy Hakim’s wonderful series, “The Story of Science.”

These books manage to make the subject engaging and accessible – even to a dunderhead like me- without condescending to the reader. I highly recommend the series to parents of elementary school- aged children.

Last weekend my oldest daughter, who has me searching the bookstores for the best new graphic novels every year at Christmas gift-giving time, participated in the 24-Hour Comics Challenge.

She’s been drawing comics on a regular basis since she was ten years old. They’re irreverent, somewhat disturbing, and quite good.

I think I’ve read more comics in the past five years- due to her interest in the genre- than I had in all the previous years of my life.

My son, a talented college freshman majoring in theater,  has infected me with his newfound enthusiasm for Sondheim. So many musicals, so little time.

Thanks to the magic of Youtube, I can listen while I get on with clutter-purging my studio. Makes the odious task more bearable. Where did all this crap come from?